More than 50 people a year on average have been arrested on North Wales railways for crimes including assault, heroin possession and luggage theft in the last three years,
But British Transport Police says although perceptions sometimes don’t match reality passengers crime levels are down, with more than 28 million passenger journeys in Wales every year.
In an answer to a Daily Post request under the Freedom of Information Act, the Daily Post has found:
- There were 69 arrests on North Wales railways in 2012-2013, 58 in 2013-2014 and 34 in 2014-2015, making an average of about 53 a year. Up to November 2015, there were 37 arrests in North Wales.
- In 2012-2013 there were six arrests for common assaults and two arrests for people suspected of being drunk and disorderly.
- In 2013-2014 there were 15 arrests for common assaults and ten for offenders being drunk and disorderly.
- In 2014-15 there were three arrests for people being drunk and disorderly, and five common assaults.
Other offences were heroin possession, malicious obstruction having an offensive weapon and travel fraud. There were also cases of racially or religiously aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm, and theft of luggage.
In all, suspects were arrested for various offences at 66 stations right across the region, from Aberdovey to Hawarden Bridge, and from Holyhead to Hope in Wrexham between April 2012 and November this year.
Reduction in crime
Dai Davies, British Transport Police’s Sector Inspector for North Wales, said crime is down but not everyone realises it.
He said: “Passenger journeys in Wales are now in excess of 28 million each year.
“Against that background of record numbers, the Wales Sub Division of British Transport Police has consistently driven down crime levels and last year saw yet another reduction, which is the 11th consecutive year that crime on Wales’s rail network has fallen.
“With an average of 53 arrests each year over the past three years, the chances of becoming a victim of crime at a station or on a train in North Wales remain extremely low; indeed, people are eight times less likely to be a victim of crime on the railways than elsewhere.”
He said the latest figures show there were just three arrests for common assaults and five for drunk and disorderly during the whole of 2014-2015.
More work to do
This equates to one arrest every six and a half weeks across the entire North Wales rail network.
But Insp Davies admits there is work to do to make passengers feel safer.
He said: “Although the figures show that the chances of becoming a victim of violent or alcohol-related crime are very low and that passengers are safe, we know the perception doesn’t always match reality and we work tirelessly to make sure that people are not only safe, but feel safe and secure too.”
Insp Davies said all crimes are investigated “rigorously and exhaustively”.
He added: “BTP is not complacent and will continue to work closely with our rail industry partners to ensure passengers and rail staff can travel and work safely and without disruption.”
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dozens-arrested-each-year-north-10741226
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